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Committee constituted to oversee clean air program
Why in news?
- The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
- It aims to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.
More in news
- National Clean Air Program (NCAP):(1) The NCAP is a scheme to provide the States and the Centre with a framework to combat air pollution.(2) The NCAP is envisioned as a five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year. There would be a review every five years.(3) NCAP requires cities to implement specific measures such as “ensuring roads are pothole-free to improve traffic flow and thereby reduce dust” (within 60 days) or “ensuring strict action against unauthorized brick kilns” (within 30 days).(4) It doesn’t specify an exact date for when these obligations kick in.(5) Experts have criticized the lack of mandatory targets and the challenge of inadequate enforcement by cities.
- Reason behind such move:(1) WHO database on air pollution over the years has listed Tier I and Tier II Indian cities as some of the most polluted places in the world.(2) In 2018, 14 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities were in India.
- How committee will implement NCAP?(1) The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry and has among its members the Joint Secretary (Thermal), Ministry of Power; Director-General, The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) etc.(2) For achieving the NCAP targets, the cities would be expected to calculate the reduction in pollution, keeping 2017’s average annual PM levels as the base year.(3) The committee would be headquartered in New Delhi and its remit includes ensuring “inter-ministerial organization and cooperation, sharing information and resolving issues that could arise between ministries.(3) The committee would also give overall guidance and directions to effectively implement the programs.
Source
The hindu